Table 1: Overview of study parameters of rTMS studies.

Main author and year Instrument Stimulation (active) Sample Stimulation (time) Stimulation (frequency) Number of sessions (days) Improvement (drop of scores - THI and/or
VAS) (perception or distress)
Sustained effect
Randomized clinical trials
Schecklmann, et al., 2015 [39] TQ, DBQ, GÜF, VARL, MWT-B, ZVT temporal and frontal cortex 40 3 min, 20 sec 1 Hz, 200 pulses, 60% RMT 2 Tinnitus loudness reductions were scarce not mentioned
Wang, et al., 2015 [60] THI, VAS LTPC 21 not mentioned 1 Hz, 1000 pulses, 110% RMT 10 THI: Drop of less than 20 points/each group < 4 weeks
Wang, et al., 2015 [60] VAS TPC 39 not mentioned 1 Hz, 1000 pulses, 110% RMT 10 VAS: Drop of less than 2 points < 4 weeks
Folmer, et al. 2015 [40] TFI, THQ, HHQ, MHQ, VAS, THI, BDI II, STAI AC 64 not mentioned 1 Hz, 2000 pulses, 110% RMT 10 THI: Drop of 7 points 26th week
Park, et al., 2015 [48] THI, VAS, BDI, STAI, PSQI LAC, PFC 14 not mentioned 1 Hz, 6000-12000 pulses, 110% RMT not mentioned THI and VAS: Drop of 10 points/each 4 weeks
Hoekstra, et al., 2013 [37] TQ, THI, VAS bilateral AC 50 not mentioned 1 Hz, 2000 pulses, 110% RMT 5 No improvement no follow up
Yang, et al., 2013 [46] THI between left temporal and left parietal 36 not mentioned 1 Hz, 2000 pulses, 110% RMT 10 THI: Drop of more than 30 points not mentioned
Barwood, et al., 2013 [38] THI, psychoacoustic measure of tinnitus LAC 8 33 min 1 Hz, 2000 pulses, 110% RMT 10 THI: Drop of 7 or more points one month
Anders, et al., 2010 [36] TQ, THI, VAS LAC 42 not mentioned 1 Hz, 1500 pulses, 110% RMT 10 THI: Drop of 4 points TQ: drop of 2 points on
TQ modified by Goebel & Hiller score
26 weeks
Marcondes, et al., 2010 [41] THI, VAS LTPC 19 20 min 1 Hz - 1020 pulses - 110% RMT 5 Drop of less than 20 points on THI score,
around 7 points
6 months
Yilmaz, et al., 2014 [61] THI, VAS, psychoacoustic measure of tinnitus not mentioned 60 30 min 1 Hz, pulses and RMT - not mentioned 10 Drop of 8 points on THI score 1 month
Randomized crossover clinical trials
Lee, et al., 2013 [62] THI, VAS between T3 and C3/T5 (EEG) 15 not mentioned 1 Hz, 1200 pulses, 100% RMT 5 THI: Drop of 11 points immediate
Kim, et al., 2014 [44] THI, VAS TPC 40 10 min 1 Hz, 600 pulses, 90% RMT 5 Drop of 9 points on THI in ipsilateral group and
7 points in contralateral group
1 month
Piccirillo, et al., 2013 [45] THI LTPC 14 42.5 min 1 Hz, pulses not mentioned, 110% RMT 20 No improvement none
Piccirillo, et al., 2011 [42] THI LTPC 14 42.5 min 1 Hz, pulses not mentioned, 110% RMT 10 No improvement none
Mennemeier, et al., 2011 [43] VARL, THQ, TSI TPC 21 30 min 1 Hz, 1800 pulses, 110% RMT 5 VARL: 33% score drop no follow up

Legend: AC: Auditory Cortex; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; BDI II: Beck Depression Inventory II; DBQ: Depression Beck Questionnaire; GÜF: German questionnaire for hyperacusis); HHQ: Hearing History Questionnaire; MWT-B: (verbal intelligence); PFC: Prefrontal Cortex; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; RI: Residual Inibition; RMT - Resting Motor Threshold; STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; THI: Tinnitus Handcap Inventory; THQ: Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire; TP: Temporal Cortex; TPC: Temporo Parietal Cortex; TSI: Tinnitus Severity Index; TQ: tinnitus questionnaire; VARL: Visual Analogue Ratings of Tinnitus Loudness; VAS: Visual Analog Scale and; ZVT: (General Processing Speed Free from Language Performance).